In a harrowing incident on December 22, 2020, a 72-year-old woman was viciously attacked by four pit bull dogs while walking in her Florissant, Missouri neighborhood. The attack occurred on a sidewalk, where the dogs knocked her to the ground and inflicted severe injuries to her body, limbs, and scalp.
Robin Handley, a 64-year-old assembly worker, heard the woman's screams and rushed to the scene, covering approximately 150 feet barefoot. Despite her efforts to scare off the dogs by waving her arms and shouting, the attack continued. Handley bravely shielded the injured woman with her own body as the dogs circled nearby, calling for help.
As the chaos unfolded, a second woman, aged 67, approached from the opposite direction and was also attacked by the dogs. She was knocked down and bitten on her legs. Handley again intervened, driving the dogs away from both women until they eventually dispersed.
Once the dogs were gone, a neighbor arrived and transported the severely injured first woman to await medical assistance. She suffered extensive wounds, including severe damage to her eye and face, and underwent multiple surgeries as part of her recovery process. The second woman also received treatment for bite wounds.
In the aftermath, one of the dogs was struck and killed by a car, while the remaining three were captured and subsequently euthanized. Remarkably, Handley emerged from the incident without any injuries. The community is left grappling with the shocking events and the impact on the victims' lives.